New partnership promotes further inclusivity across museum creative programming
Collaborative partnership with Scanlon Foundation to help break down participation and engagement barriers for diverse audiences.
Museums Victoria is proud to partner with the Scanlon Foundation to help diversify its creative and curatorial offering, further embracing the richness of Australia’s culture across its core programming.
The four-year strategic partnership between the two organisations was formed in 2022 to advance participation, diversity and belonging within Museum Victoria’s workforce and across creative programming outcomes for all three of its museum sites.
The partnership builds on Museums Victoria’s commitment to breaking down participation and engagement barriers for diverse audiences, and aligns with core aspirations of the Scanlon Foundation.
"Our mission is to see Australia advance as a welcoming, prosperous and cohesive nation, particularly related to the transition of migrants into Australian society”, said Anthea Hancocks, CEO of the Scanlon Foundation.
Informed by existing Museums Victoria initiatives and in consultation with the Scanlon Foundation, a program has been designed to realise long-term benefits for Museums Victoria’s audiences and communities, promoting social cohesion and driving leadership opportunities across the cultural sector.
“Social cohesion is key to building trust between members of the community and institutions such as Museums Victoria,” said Museums Victoria CEO & Director, Lynley Crosswell.
“The partnership with the Scanlon Foundation will help Museums Victoria foster greater diversity among our workforce and in our approach to programming and curation,” she said.
“At Museums Victoria, we pride ourselves on being welcoming, inclusive and valuing authenticity, but there is always room for growth. We are here to actively listen and engage so that we can further understand the perspectives and challenges of diverse communities to participating in the cultural life of Victoria”.
The program is supported by the establishment of a Museums Victoria Inclusion Working Group to bring in multiple perspectives and ways of thinking in decision making; providing guidance, advice, collaboration and engagement with key networks to facilitate community co-design opportunities across Victoria.
The Scanlon Foundation and Museums Victoria partnership is guided by three strategic pillars; breaking down barriers to participation and engagement with diverse audiences, driving creative sector leadership and best practice, and enhancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
The Culture Makers program is one such initiative, developing meaningful engagement and partnerships with diverse Victorian communities. The program will launch with six new experiences across Immigration Museum, Melbourne Museum and Scienceworks, from April to July 2023.
Culture Makers – Season One will showcase the work of seven Victorian-based creatives selected from a range of ‘expressions of interest’ submissions by an independent creative advisory panel.
